Research Policies and Guidance

Vanderbilt University policies and guidelines governing research are intended to support the University’s commitment to the highest standards of ethics, honesty, and integrity in pursuit of its research mission including the commitment to following all laws and regulations related to scientific research. These policies and guidelines are also intended to be consistent with the University’s principal missions of the preservation, pursuit, dissemination and application of knowledge.

Scientific research endeavors carried out by Vanderbilt faculty, staff, students, post-doctoral fellows, scholars, visiting scientists and other employees is governed by policies and procedures that include, but not limited to, standards of conduct; conflict of interest and commitment; intellectual property; sponsored research; VUMC research data retention and ownership; responsible conduct of research and research misconduct; and roles and responsibilities related to fiscal stewardship and accountability.

Conflict of Interest and Commitment
All individual members of the University community are expected to (i) abide by the Conflict of Interest and Commitment Policy and standards set forth in this Policy (including any specific procedures adopted by specific schools or departments pursuant to or in furtherance of this policy), (ii) fully and continually disclose professional and relevant personal activities and relationships that create a Conflict of Interest or Commitment or have the appearance of creating a Conflict of Interest or Commitment as required by the University, (iii) remedy Conflicts of Interest or Commitment or comply with any management or monitoring plan prescribed by the University, (iv) remain aware of the potential for Conflicts of Interest and Commitment, and (v) take initiative to manage, disclose, or resolve Conflicts of Interest or Commitment as appropriate.

All senior administrators have the responsibility to understand and implement this policy, including, as necessary, the adoption of specific procedures for their respective schools and departments in furtherance of and in accordance with this policy.

Responsible Conduct of Research(including procedures applicable to allegations concerning misconduct in research sponsored by the U.S. Public Health Service)Misconduct in research is considered to be a special case of deviation from standards of conduct established by the University or other practices that seriously deviate from those that are commonly accepted within the scholarly community for proposing, conducting, or reporting research.

The University defines misconduct by individuals involved in research or research training as: 1) falsification, fabrication, or theft of data or samples; 2) plagiarism; 3) unauthorized use of privileged information; 4) abuse of authorship; and 5) significant failure to comply with federal, state, or University rules governing research (or with appropriate professional or international rules when research is conducted outside the United States): examples include rules involving human subjects, animals, recombinant DNA, new drugs, new devices, radioactive materials, and preservation of antiquities and natural resources.